Lower seal for glazed roofs or similar constructions



April 28, 1959 H. VAN KLEEF I 2,883,946

LOWER SEAL FOR GLAZED ROOF-S OR SIMILAR CONSTRUCTION-S Filed Jan. 22, 1957 FIG. 4

United States Patent LOWER SEAL FOR GLAZED ROOFS OR SIMILAR CONSTRUCTIONS Hartog van Kleef, Rotterdam, Netherlands Application January 22,1957, Serial No. 635,319 Claims priority, application Netherlands February 9, 1956 6 Claims. 01. 108-16) This invention relates to a lower seal for glazed roofs of similar constructions, the said glazed roof of similar construction terminating on the lower side on a rim or like roof member arranged at a distance from the glazed roof necessary for the drainage of the condensation water. a

It is a known fact that in glazed roofs the transition from the lower side onto the rest of the roof construction causes considerable difl'lculties. It is very difficult to obtain a construction offering a-satisfactory sealing under any condition which has the required elasticity and the necessary adaptability and yet may drain the condensation water and such. a construction requires much maintenance. w

Mostly it is considered sufficient to provide a foam rubber seal between the rim and the glazed roof. This has to be provided with the necessary skill, the more so since the distance between glass and rim is often not the same everywhere. Owing to outside atmospheric influences and the condensation water being formed at the inside such a seal deteriorates rapidly so that blown up snow, heavy showers, dirt and dust from the roof may enter unhin- .dered.

It has been attempted to meet these objections by having the glazed roof project as much as possible beyond the rim. However, it has been found that, quite apart from the additional expense involved, this measure does not afford suflicient protection. Replacement of the seal from the outside is almost impossible and therefore this must be done from the inside. The scaffolding required for this purpose for a factory in operation takes up much time, is expensive and causes much inconvenience. Moreover, in this known construction the drainage of the condensation water forms a big problem.

The seal according to the invention avoids these disadvantages in that the said seal comprises a gutter of weatherproof material extending with its front edge against the glazed roof or like construction and with its back entirely or partly against the rim or similar roof member. In this way the gutter may always sealingly fit with its front edge against the glazed roof independent of variations in the height of the glazed roof above the rim and e the condensation water may easily flow in and be drained from the gutter onto the roof. In this way one also obtains the advantage thatthe glazed roof edge projecting far out may be shortened thus affording a saving of glass or an increase of the transparent surface.

It is preferred to manufacture the gutter from a .V-shaped sheet of zinc or similar flexible material and to arrange the said gutter by means of an upturned portion of its front edge resiliently against the glass.

The gutters which may thus way may be stacked in a-very economical manner and carried to the building site without risk of damage or deformation.

The drainage of the condensation water formed under the glazed roof or similar construction is still improved if drainage openings are provided in the gutter bottom. In

be made in a very simple 2,883,946 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 this way the water is led directly onto the underlying roof.

The drainage openings may also be used for passing the fastening means of the gutter therethrough.

The fastening means preferably consist of a flexible rod of weather-proof material of which one end is turned up against the front of the guttter and the other end, extending across the inner edge of the gutter, is fixed to the rim of the roof or similar roof member. If, for example, the rim is of wood these securing means may be fixed by means of screws.

In order to be able to fix the seal also from the outside, which is particularly of advantage in the case of existing buildings, the flexible fastening rods are bent at their rear end into a hook engaging with the roof rim or similar roof member, the fastening rods resting at the rear in a resilient manner against the glazed roof or similar construction and locking the inner edge of the gutter against the rim or similar roof portion.

The sealing thus formed may be provided on any wooden, steel or concrete roof construction, independent of the glazing bars used and without damage to the roof and is very easy to renew. Also the replacement of any broken glass panes does not present any difficulty whatsoever.

When providing this drainage gutter one may proceed in such a way that the flexible fastening means, first provided at their rear end with a hook-like portion, are passed through the holes in the gutter bottom, the gutter is placed with its bottom forward and with its inner edge against the rim or similar roof member and the fastening means are hooked behind same, whereupon the fastening means are pulled downwards, the back of the gutter is turned against the rim or similar roof member and the gutter is pushed with its front against the glazed roof or like construction, everything in such a manner that the rear edge of the gutter is clamped by the fastening means against the front of therim or similar roof member. When the gutter is placed into position the fastening means adjust themselves automatically at the rear against the glass. The fastening system is then fixed by turning up the front end of the fastening means against the front of the gutter. The fastening means may be given the correct shape by means of a pair of tongues or merely by hand, without any skill on the part of the person mounting the unit, and therefore in a very simple and cheap manner.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, some embodiments of the seal according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a front view of a seal according to the invention provided on a concrete roof.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding cross section.

Fig. 3 shows the fastening system of the said seal on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 shows a section with a-fastening system fixed on a concrete rim provided with wooden beam.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3 the glazed roof 1 extends between glazing bars of concrete 2 and ends at the lower side on a concrete rim 3 of a concrete roof 4. The roof is supported by steel purlins 5.

In this instance the seal between the glazed roof 1 and the rim 3 is formed by a V-shaped zinc gutter 6. This .gutter has at its front a portion 7 turned up in an outward direction (Fig. 3), said portion being resiliently arranged against the glass 1. The rear edge 8 of the gutter has been clamped against the front of the rim 3 by means of spaced fastening means 9. These fastening means each consist of a round stainless wire, these wires being bent at the rear around the rim 3 and engaging with this rim by means of their upturned ends 10. This a. wire furthermore rests at 11 resiliently against the glass It and continues thereupon via the outer edge of the rim downwards where it emerges through an opening in the gutter bottom 12 and is turned up against the front of the gutter.

In this way the gutter is pressed with its front against the glazed roof 1, its rear portion being sealingly enclosed under the fastening wire and against the front of the rim 3.

The condensation water formed at the under side of the roof 1 may thus flow downwards along this roof where it is collected by the gutter and may flow via the holes in the gutter bottom onto the rest of the roof.

It is obvious that instead of concrete glazing bars also metal or wooden bars may be used and that the sealing gutters according to the invention may also be used in the case of wooden roofs with wooden rims.

The seal is mounted in the following way: The fastening wires provided at the rear with hook-shaped portions are passed through the holes in the gutter bottom, whereupon the gutter is placed with its bottom forward and with its inner edge against the rim and the wires are hooked behind the said rim. The fastening wires are then pulled downwards and at the same time the back of the gutter is turned against the rim and the gutter is pushed into position with its front against the glazed roof so that consequently the rear edge of the gutter is clamped by the wires against the front of the rim and the wires adjust themselves in a resilient way against the glass. Finally the front ends of the fastening wires are bent upwards against the gutter so that the entire system is fixedly locked.

In Fig. 4 a concrete rim having a wooden cover 13 is shown. In this case soldered lips have been used as fastening means for the zinc gutter, these lips having been bent at the rear and fixed with screws 14.

I claim:

1. In a skylight construction which includes a rim on a roof and a translucent panel having an edge portion disposed above and protruding beyond the rim; a seal means between the rim and the panel and including a substantially U-shaped gutter of flexible material and having front and rear walls and a bottom wall connecting said front and rear walls, said bottom wall having discharge openings, the gutter having its front wall bearing at its upper edge against the underside of the panel and having its back wall bearing on the front of the rim, and fastening means mounting the gutter in such position, said fastening means including flexible thin members having hook-like end portions disposed behind the rim and being extended down into the gutter and through the openings in the bottom wall and having their opposing end portions bearing against the front wall of the gutter and pressing the upper edge of the front wall against the translucent panel.

2. In a skylight construction which includes a rim on a roof and a translucent panel having an edge portion disposed above and protruding beyond the rim; a seal means between the rim and the panel and including a substantially U-shaped gutter of flexible material and having front and rear walls and a bottom wall connecting said front and rear walls, said bottom wall having discharge openings, the gutter having its front wall hearing at its upper edge against the underside of the panel and having its back wall bearing on'the front of the rim, and fastening means mounting the gutter in such position, said fastening means including flexible thin members having hook-like end portions disposed behind the rim and being extended down into the gutter and through the openings in the bottom wall and having their opposing end portions bearing against the front wall of the gutter and pressing the upper edge of the front wall against the translucent panel, said flexible members having their opposing end portions bent upwardly to bear against the front wall, the upper edge of which is bent at an angle 4 from the front Wall and bears at its terminal position against the panel.

3. In a skylight construction which includes a rim on a roof and a translucent panel having an edge portion disposed above and protruding beyond the rim; a seal means between the rim and the panel and including a substantially U-shaped gutter of flexible material and having front and rear walls and a bottom wall connecting said front and rear walls, said bottom wall having discharge openings, the gutter having its front wall bearing at its upper edge against the underside of the panel and having its back wall bearing on the front of the rim, and fastening means mounting the gutter in such position, said fastening means including flexible thin members having hook-like end portions disposed behind the rim and being extended down into the gutter and through the openings in the bottom wall and having their opposing end portions bearing against the front wall of the gutter and pressing the upper edge of the front wall against the translucent panel, said flexible members having their opposing end portions bent upwardly to bear against the front wall, the upper edge of which is bent at an angle from the front wall and bears at its terminal position against the panel, the hook-like end portions of the flexible members being gripped behind the rim.

4. In a skylight construction which includes a rim on a roof and a translucent panel having an edge portion disposed above and protruding beyond the rim; a seal means between the rim and the panel and including a substantially U--shaped gutter of flexible material and having front and rear walls and a bottom wall connecting said front and rear walls, said bottom wall having dis charge openings, the gutter having its front wall hearing at its upper edge against the underside of the panel and having its back wall bearing on the front of the rim, and fastening means mounting the gutter in such position, said fastening means including flexible thin members having hook-like end portions disposed behind the rim and being extended down into the gutter and through the openings in the bottom wall and having their opposing end portions bearing against the front wall of the gutter and pressing the upper edge of the front wall against the translucent panel, said flexible members having their opposing end portions bent upwardly to bear against the front wall, the upper edge of which is bent at an angle from the front wall and bears at its terminal position against the panel, the hook-like end portions of the flexible members being gripped behind the rim and having a terminating free end which is bent inwardly to dig into the rim.

5. In a skylight construction which includes a rim on a roof and a translucent panel having an edge portion disposed above and protruding beyond the rim; a seal means between the rim and the panel and including a substantially U-shaped gutter of flexible material and having front and rear walls and a bottom wall connecting said front and rear walls, said bottom wall having discharge openings, the gutter having its front wall bearing at its upper edge aaginst the underside of the panel and having its back wall bearing on the front of the rim, and fastening means mounting the gutter in such position, said fastening means including flexible thin members having hook-like end portions disposed behind the rim and being extended down into the gutter and through the openings in the bottom wall and having their opposing end portions bearing against the front wall of the gutter and pressing the upper edge of the front wall against the translucent panel, and said flexible members having a portion thereof resiliently bearingagainst'the panel above the rim.

6. A method for providing a seal .for the lower side of a skylight, said seal comprising a gutter of flexible material, said gutter lying with its front rim edge against the translucent part of the skylight and with its back side on an upright roof curb arranged at a distance under the translucent part of the skylight, said method consisting in using flexible fastening means provided at their rear end with a hook-like portion, passing said fastening means through holes in the gutter bottom, placing the gutter with its bottom forward and with its inner edge against the roof curb and hooking the fastening means behind same, whereupon the fastening means are pulled downwards, the back of the gutter is turned against the roof curb and the gutter is pushed with its front against the translucent part of the skylight, everything in such a manner that the rear rim of the gutter is clamped by the fastening means against the front of the roof curb,

Whereafter the front ends of the fastening means are turned up against the gutter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 815,813 Graham Mar. 20, 1906 1,772,068 Cibulas Aug. 5, 1930 1,929,302 Boyle Oct. 3, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 596,213 Germany Apr. 30, 1934 

